The Bible says to imitate God as dear children. So how do we do this? Well, Jesus is God incarnate and we're told to follow Him and be conformed to His image. The practical way you can accomplish this is by spending time with Him, in His Word, and in prayer. As you abide in Christ, you will begin to look more and more like Him and you will draw unbelievers to Him. If you're a genuine follower of Jesus, you will lose your own identity and your identity will be found only in Him.
Disciple - Disciples Make Disciples, Part 1
In our American church culture, we're so busy doing so many different activities and programs, that are we really focused on what being a Christian is all about? The Lord commissioned all believers to follow Him as disciples and to preach the gospel throughout the world and make disciples. The whole reason you're left here on this earth is to further the kingdom of God by making disciples. Are you fulfilling the mission Christ has given you to complete?
Th Gospel and the Home - Fathers, Part 1
The grace of God is the power that enables us to live godly lives. Pastor Ricky is giving a charge to the father figures in the church to come alongside the young men and to teach them to live Godly lives. The key that enables you to first, be godly and second, to have the ability to disciple another person, is the grace of God. God's grace didn't just save you from your sin but also gives you the ability to receive and apply God's promises to your life.
Th Gospel and the Home - Our Stuff, Part 2
As Pastor Ricky continues his teaching on being a good steward of the resources God entrusts to us, he will be focusing on giving and tithing. The New Testament church is told to give out of a cheerful heart. Not out of compulsion but to give what he or she has determined in their own heart to give. Are you laying up for yourself treasure here on earth, or in heaven? The whole purpose of having resources is to meet your needs and to be used by God to meet the needs of others.
Th Gospel and the Home - Our Stuff, Part 1
In today's message, Pastor Ricky will be showing through Old and New Testament scripture how we’re not owners of anything that we have. We really are just stewards. God is the creator of all things and every good thing that you have comes from Him. The Lord entrusts His children with the responsibility to use the resources He's blessed them with to further His kingdom. Do you believe you were an owner of your resources or a steward? You will be held accountable for how you use His resources.
Th Gospel and the Home - Men, Part 2
Men, you're not your paycheck, you're not the car you drive, you're not doomed to repeat the same mistakes your father did. Your identity is now in Jesus. You must purpose to be rooted in that identity in Christ. Jesus should be who you model yourself after, not what the world says man should be. You’re called to live a godly life in Christ and to imitate Him as a dear child. Allow the Lord to train you, not your past experiences or what the world says you should be.
Th Gospel and the Home - Men, Part 1
Today Pastor Ricky will be exhorting the men in the church to live up to the call on their lives. The Lord calls them to be godly leaders that guide their families in the way of holiness. If you are a man that is discouraged and feels as though this calling is too great for you, purpose to lean on the grace of God. God's grace forgives your past and gives you hope for the future. By God's grace, you can become the man God wants you to be. Get up and receive God's promises and walk in victory.
The Gospel and the Home - Women, Part 2
Pastor Ricky will be encouraging women today to live up to the amazing call that God has placed on their lives and encouraging men to love their wives as Christ loved the church. When men love their wives and give them encouragement, it's easy for women to respect them and when women respect their husbands, it's easy for men to love and show affection. Purpose to be a builder and encourager. Don't be someone who tears down and constantly criticizes.
Th Gospel and the Home - Women, Part 1
In this letter to the church, the Apostle Paul is encouraging the believers to live out what they learn from God's Word in the home. When you come to church and receive a word from God it's to be lived out in your household and taught to your family. Don't allow yourself to sit in service and think, “Oh, what a great sermon” and then neglect the application to your everyday life. When you obey God's Word, it brings a blessing upon your home and family. Purpose to be a Godly example to those in your household.
Carry the Fire - Let's Go, Part 2
If Jesus were in the room today, what would your stance be? Generally, people held one of four. Some begged for healing. Some watched and studied. Some stood offensively in opposition. But then some, like the disciples, stood ready for orders. In today's message, Pastor Ricky teaches that when you're filled with the Holy Spirit you have no choice but to want to go. Today will you stand in opposition? Will you beg for healing? Will you stand passively and watch, or will you go?
Carry the Fire - Let's Go, Part 1
When you think of the Champions of the Faith, who do you think of? Probably Paul or Moses. Maybe David. When you think of somebody that's filled with the Holy Spirit, who comes to mind? Maybe you imagine the disciples at Pentecost or John the Baptist inside Elizabeth's womb. Well Christian, today Pastor Ricky challenges you to look in the mirror. He'll teach you that if you're a believer, the same Holy Spirit that lived in all of those people lives inside of you. He's making you new from the inside out.
Carry the Fire - What About Spiritual Gifts, Part 3
Satan has this little game that he likes to play in people's minds. It's a really old game. In fact, it's quite literally one of the oldest tricks in the book, found in the earliest chapters of Genesis. It's a little game called comparison. Have you heard of it? Today, Pastor Ricky teaches that this game of comparison is especially rampant in the age of social media but we can't let it win. Your spiritual gifts might look different from somebody else’s, but the Holy Spirit has blessed you with a beautiful gift that is unique to you.
Carry the Fire - What About Spiritual Gifts, Part 2
Often when we think about spiritual gifts, we think about the big flashy ones. We think of speaking in tongues or speaking prophecy over somebody. Those are wonderful gifts to receive, but there are so many other beautiful gifts to receive that fly under the radar. Today Pastor Ricky teaches that you've been uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit. Your gift might be in administration or in serving others but whatever your spiritual gift might be use it to spread the good news of Jesus.
Carry the Fire - What About Spiritual Gifts, Part 1
Have you ever seen someone with an incredible gift or talent, but they know it too? Have you ever seen them strut in pride or have a false sense of humility? The Holy Spirit blesses believers with wonderful gifts but teaches that we should not flaunt our gifts in the ways we might see celebrities flaunt their talents. Today Pastor Ricky teaches that you've been given a gift and it's your responsibility to use that gift, whether it's the gift you prefer or not, to bring glory and honor to the name of Jesus Christ, not yourself.
Carry the Fire - What Does It Look Like to Carry the Fire of the Spirit, Part 2
For many of us, that might ring true, right? I think many of us have been there, longing for the Holy Spirit to move in a miraculous and undeniable way. You know, like how He used to. But we're unwilling to move ourselves. As Pastor Ricky will challenge us in today's message, if we fail to live in obedience to the clear instructions that we can find in Scripture, going out and sharing the gospel both with our words and actions, how can we expect God to move? He's not going to force His will on us.
Carry the Fire - What Does It Look Like to Carry the Fire of the Spirit, Part 1
Have you experienced that change? You'll know it if you have. If you've ever gotten too close to a flame, then you know it. It's probably even left a mark. In a similar way, if you've ever jumped into a pool or a pond, there's no questioning that it happened afterwards. As Pastor Ricky points out in today's message, both of those illustrations are frequent in Scripture when it comes to describing the effect of the Holy Spirit on our souls. When He fills our heart, it's going to be apparent and undeniable.
Carry the Fire - Why Christianity is a Supernatural Spirit-Filled Religion, Part 2
What a powerful reminder that salvation isn't an isolated event in the life of a believer. Yes, there is a distinct moment where you make that decision to trust in Christ and His Holy Spirit comes in and redeems your soul but that's not the end of it. That work of the Holy Spirit is just the beginning. As Pastor Ricky explains in today's message, the Spirit comes in and stays in the heart of a believer. Our hearts will never be the same. He brings transformation and He continues that process until we stand with Him in eternity.
Carry the Fire - Why Christianity is a Supernatural Spirit-Filled Religion, Part 1
In our age of science and reason, we struggle with the idea of the supernatural. Quite often, those who lean into this realm are considered crazy or radical, and in many cases, that description is accurate. But as Pastor Ricky begins his new series, Carry the Fire, in today's message, he'll remind us that the Holy Spirit is essential in the life of every believer. The only way that we can experience the Holy Spirit is supernaturally. His presence can't be physically measured. He connects with us in our spirit.
Gospel Culture - Why Is Gospel Ministry So Costly, Part 2
Our world pushes the message that we need to lookout for number one. If you've got some money or resources leftover, sure, give that away, but only once you get all of your personal needs and desires. As Pastor Ricky points out in today's message, we see something very different demonstrated in Scripture. The focus is never on self. The focus is on leaning into our Provider in complete faith. When we trust that God will meet all of our needs, we can hold our money and stuff a lot more loosely.
Gospel Culture - Why Is Gospel Ministry So Costly, Part 1
Generosity always stands out in a world that puts itself first. We often see it with a dose of skepticism. We wonder what strings are going to be attached. Well, as Pastor Ricky examines the generosity of the early church in 1 Corinthians, we’ll be challenged to increase this aspect of our Christian lives. We've seen far too many cases of corruption in the church throughout the years and we've built up a distrust in how we give but God calls us to give generously, so we need to lean into it with discernment.